I don’t know about you, but my 2016 life experience was kind of … surprising.
I’m not even talking about the Brex’out, the Trump’s-in or stuff like that.
But if we focus on what we wanted to achieve in 2016 at a personal level …
Was 2016 Really As You Dreamed It?
Did it go according to your plan?
My year wasn’t bad, but it certainly didn’t go according to the plan!
There were few big moments worth remembering: I became British (strange for a French man), joined Paid to Exist, discovered Costa Rica and made a crazy decision to move there in the next year or so!
None of that was planned on the 1st of Jan 2016 ;)
By the way, I’d be really keen to know your 2016 story … (keep reading, more on that later!). And what about 2017? Are you plotting any big changes for next year?
If you do, here is a humble piece of advice:
Get Rid Of All Your New Year Resolutions!
I’m serious: get rid of all of them!
I personally think New Year resolutions suck big time. I even discovered the other day it is now scientifically proven: only 8% of them actually produce the expected results ;)
To be fair, this is mainly because, rather than being proper commitments, they’re generally just quick, entertaining thoughts we use to fuel our Christmas conversations.
They give us a temporary sense of satisfaction. That’s why we love to come up with “plans” like “stop smoking and lose 40 stones by March”.
New Year resolutions are often vain wishes.
But what if you can’t afford vain wishes anymore?
What if you want this massive change in your life to happen in 2017?
What if you really want 2017 to be the year where you’ll quit your job for good, and start getting paid to be who you really are?
If you feel ready for this change, I have good news for you:
There Is Only One Crucial Thing You Need To Do To Transform Your Life Next Year
A few days ago, we did a bit of a brainstorming with the PTE Team. We wanted to find the best advices possible to help you get stellar results next year.
And you know what? We quickly discarded all the usual mainstream stuff: mindset, accountability, etc.
We wanted something different, something more POWERFUL.
So we decided to share just one thing with you …
But not just anything:
The one thing you should do next year to achieve massive success and get paid to exist.
The mother-of-all advice that will give you desire, focus, vision, motivation and an incredible kick-ass energy that will force you to over-achieve next year …
Want to know what it is?
We’ll post it on this blog next week, just after Christmas, so stay tuned.
Stick your email here to get notified as soon as we post it.
Until then, let’s do one important thing: Christmas presents!
Here’s How To WIN A Free Paid To Exist Christmas Package
Post a comment below to share your 2016 story with us, and let us know the one thing you think you should focus on next year.
Any story is welcome: awesome achievements, massive failures, sudden revelations, crazy decisions, mindset shifts, and just about anything else ;)
We’ll read all your comments and the best one wins our very special Christmas Paid To Exist Christmas Package:
Our Paid To Exist Christmas Package For the Winner (Worth $180+)
Includes …
The Job Escape Kit (worth $97+, not on sale anymore)
If you don’t know about it, The Job Escape Kit is a creative, actionable guide that shows you precisely how to quit your job and claim your freedom in 2017.
It is beautiful (incl. some amazing pics), exhaustive (150 pages long) and quite a deep and moving reading (thanks to the interviews of fellow successful quitters).
It is also a vintage gift, as we currently don’t sell it anymore. More details on this page (but the buy buttons are inactive).
The Limit Destroying Kit (worth $27)
You don’t have keep betting against yourself. You don’t have to let your thoughts run the show and work against you.
Your mind can be a powerful ally. But you must start with first identifying, and then transforming your patterns of negative self-sabotage.
The Limit Destroying Kit is a powerful, tested approach to locating, uprooting and transforming limiting beliefs into self-serving beliefs that lay the foundation for your greatness.
The Ultimate Guide To Building Your Tribe (worth $97)
Anyone can start a movement, anyone can create a cause. But if you want to build more than a passive, lukewarm community it will take guts, sweat and heart.
The Ultimate Guide To Building Your Tribe is a guided video course with action-based workbooks that will help you build a tribe that will pay you to do what you love.
Merry Christmas to you,
And we’ll catch up next week!
Cedric
P.S. Don’t forget to add your comment!
The beginning of 2016 was hard for me. I’d just left (escaped) a toxic relationship that left me emotionally devastated, switched from a government job to a job as a coach and moved to a different part of the city where I didn’t feel very comfortable. It took a good six months before I had adjusted to all of this and was ready to continue working on a really *amazing* life.
Most importantly, to me, in 2016 I tried very hard to get contracts with group practices to work as a freelance psychotherapist. In one case my persistence paid off. In another it didn’t, but it left me with a solid contact that might be useful in the future. I now have the freedom to leave my full-time job for a part-time position and continue pursuing my dreams. I’ve learned that there are more opportunities in the world than I might have thought, but you have to chase after them. To let your actions speak as loud as your words and prove to other people that they really want you in their life or business.
That’s my story of 2016, I hope 2017 will be even better for all of us :)
2016 was my limbo year. I had major set backs in 2015 with being hacked and loosing a business plan to an Australian business competitor. 2016 was going to be my launch year, but ended up being a year of shock & recovery. I hope 2017 allows me to launch both my spiritual website & my business/wordpress training website.
Wanted to lose weight : at least did not gain more. Well, a small victory is better than none.
Wanted to begin my business : not yet but never been so close.
Wanted to finish my book : nope. I plan a working group next year : already know when and where. If I go on with the same routines, I will reach the exact same point.
So, I learnt that a small step, il already a victory. I learnt to enjoy the journey and keep track of my feelings. Changing the plan because it does not correpond to your values anymore is not a bad idea? I learnt to try new things if I want something new in my life + the benefits of hypnotherapy.
Not bad after all.
My 2016 went sort of planned, but with a major turn of events. I had a baby on May 1st. I went into the hospital on April 30th to get induced, but ended up having a C-section. During the C-section, that is when things went horribly wrong. I ended up profusely bleeding during the C-section, to the point where the doctors did not know if I was going to make it. I ended up needing 30 units of Packed Red blood cells, along with many other blood products. I was put into a medically induced coma for 5 days, 3 surgeries, a hysterectomy, echocardiogram, x-rays and CT scans. When I finally woke up that following Friday, I was in total shock to learn what had happened to me, as well as to loose 5 days of your life. I spent a total of 10 days in the hospital. I went home to my parents house where they help me nurse back to health, along with my baby. I have such a heartfelt gratitude to the doctors who save my life, the nursing staff who help me to gain my health back, my parents who offered their home and hearts to me, my husband who had to weather the fear of loosing his wife and having to take care of 2 children on his own, thank God it did not turn out that way! After going through a life event where you could have lost your life, most of the problems I have are small and are not worth me getting upset about. I look at challenges as a gift now because I almost did not have that chance to experience them. I am alive, I have my baby girl who is happy and healthy, and I have my husband and son who all complete me. The only thing that I want now is a career that completes me, one that I want to wake up and go to everyday that fulfills me and makes me feel like I made a difference. God bless everyone and enjoy the upcoming holidays!! Tricia
Thanks Tricia! You are one strong lady, glad to have you here with us. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family. We are here if you need help and support building your new, fulfilling career in 2017!
The one thing I am going to focus on in 2017 is to radically FOCUS like I’ve never focused before! Learn how to really concentrate on ONE thing only. Say NO to everything that is not crucially important to me. Wohoo already practicing the last weeks of 2016, because I can’t wait. It feels great and produces real QUICK high QUALITY results!
In 2016, I cleared out lots of stuff from my home (furniture, DVDs etc.) and my life that I don’t need (for example no more cleaning and shopping thanks to my cleaning lady – frees time I can use otherwise).
2017 I am doing the same thing to my mind!
I started out 2016 with plans to divorce my husband, who at that point I had been with for 19 years. I even broke the news to him on New Year’s Eve. I thought that he didn’t love me and I figured I would be doing us both a favor.
For the first time in my life I had confidence, I was taking control of my life. I was being selfish, instead of a martyr for everyone else. I realized that it was okay for people to notice me, that I didn’t have to try to hide or blend into the background. I became comfortable with the idea that I had actually been right all along, that there were a lot of people that did not like me – at all. But that in and of itself was liberating. Accepting that I wasn’t liked by some people, freed me up to finally truly be myself.
I picked up a paint brush for the first time in 20 years and started to find passion in my life again – I listened to my music loud, drank too much wine and painted with abandon.
My husband and I went through some really tough times, loud arguments, words and actions that could never be taken back… And this only brings us to February. At the end of February, my husband (always a handsome man catching the eyes of many ladies with his mischievious smile and dimples), suffered a traumatic injury to his face – Essentially crushing the entire orbital sock of his left eye, along with portions of his jaw and nose. He needed a 4.5 hour reconstructive facial surgery to repair the damage that was done. While he was in that surgery, I realized how much I would miss if I didn’t have him in my life.
After his surgery and during his long recovery, he and I had many talks. And I really listened. I discovered that my own self esteem issues had clouded everything I had done for the past 20 years. I wasn’t living with a man that didn’t love me. I was just living with a man that was exhausted trying to prove it to somebody that didn’t believe him. I also discovered that being a martyr in a relationship is not helpful to anyone. I was only making myself feel better by elevating myself to the status of “look at everything I do for you”. Not to say that he doesn’t have faults. but the biggest thing for me was realizing and admitting that I have faults too. And now, our relationship is bigger and better than it ever was. Our sex life is amazing and we are so close mentally and emotionally. I never would have guessed that all of the heartbreak would have been the catalyst for so much wonderful.
I now find that my life is much happier and I can give more sincerely of my time to both my husband and my kids, when I stay selfish about my time for myself.
So I paint, I paint with a compulsion and I don’t know if I am any good or not, but that really isn’t the point of it for me. It’s a release of all of the bottled up emotions I’ve had stuck inside me for years, a breaking through of the facade of “normalcy” that I hid behind when I was afraid of not being liked.
I am not normal, I never have been. And 2016 made it okay for me to be me again. I look upon this past year with sorrow because it was rough. I truly don’t know if I would do it all over again, it included so much pain for the people in my family that are close to me and if I could have predicted that, I definitely would never knowingly submit them to that all over again. But we can’t go back in time and I am looking forward to and extremely excited about our future.
Which brings me to why I am here. Working for myself, being my own boss, doing work that I love and that has meaning has ALWAYS been my dream. I gave that dream up to support my family for a very long time. But I’m ready to take that dream back now.
Thanks so much for sharing this story Rachel. Looks like you’ve been to hell and back this year, but you’ve also grown and learned a lot about yourself. What you’re saying about benefits of being ‘selfish’ and having time for yourself is so true, and something that most people – especially women! – so often forget about. Really looking forward to hearing your 2017 story, I have a feeling it’s going to be a good one!
Thank you for taking the time to respond! Yes, I too am excited to see what my story is at the end of 2017! I will be sure to share it here.
Didn’t really have a great year. In June there was a leak in my hot water cylinder which sits in my roof, so that caused a mini flood in my bathroom and massive hole in my ceiling. I had to spend over a month dealing with assessors, a builder and painter to get repairs done.
About a month ago someone backed into my parked car so I had to organise that getting fixed.
On the upside, I learned I can handle more than I thought I could.
I’m getting more and more bored in my job but have no idea what I want to do instead.
I think 2017 will be a year to get to know me.
Life never works out as plan, if someone had told me 5 years ago that I would be living in Croatia married to a man I met on a Pirate Ship, I would have said “you’re crazy!” Yet… here I am. I couldn’t have planned this in a million years and am happier than I have ever been, but having clear goals and purpose can still drive us through each year, we may not know exactly where it all leads us, but if we are open to life we can achieve our goals and some.
2016 my goals were to
* get on top of my health – I am not a swimwear model, but I have stayed consistent with my healthy habits and am feeling better at 30 than I did at 20.
* focus on my writing: I now write for Elephant Journal, Total Croatia News and Yachts Magazine (as well as free-lancing)
* take action in what matters: I have started an environmental initiative and donate to local charities
* Start a Toastmasters Club: I have just begun the process
* Learn more about yoga: I have just signed up for a YTT (Yoga Teacher Training next year)
None of these things happened immediately, or how I envisioned, but being open and saying YES, lead me to various people and opportunities all in line with my goals.
“Most people overestimate what they can do in a day, and underestimate what they can do in a month. We overestimate what we can do in a year, and underestimate what we can accomplish in a decade.”
Day by day it is the small steps, consistent steps that get us closer to our dreams (not merely a whimsy announced on NYE).
Dream on.
Couldn’t agree more Tash. Consistent action is so much more effective (and less scary!) in turning dreams into reality than sudden, dramatic moves. And your example is a great proof of that! Dream on!
Well… in July I started what I thought would be my dream job in Corporate America. It turned out to be the job from hell.
I start a new job on January 3. Not exactly my dream job, but I’ve given up on that notion. I think it will be tolerable … and, hopefully, enjoyable.
I would like to focus on making wiser choices regarding my investments and my health. Retirement is closer than I would like to admit. I retire as quickly as possible and to be able to be healthy enough to enjoy it.
2016 is ending in a victory celebration and joyful anticipation. The year held multiple challenges, including extensive health challenges for my child, a surprise move, a building fire that relocated some clients (and caused a temporary 40% income loss for me), an auto accident and the death of my favorite uncle. So…why am I celebrating? This year of testing let me demonstrate a calm peace, confident wisdom and problem solving. I have also discovered my life partner this year, as well as clarity for my calling/mission. Life is GOOD!
Dominated 2016 from Jan 1st till today and will finish with a top rope elbow to the back of 2016 skull!
2017 is going to be fresh, fabulous, and fantastic! Bring on the New Year and God Bless you all!
2016 started out great. January I had my best income month ever, February I took a short solo trip to Chicago (a big deal since I’m a highly introverted hermit), and then in February, everything sort of started sinking. My income dropped to “survival level”: I was able to pay my rent and basic bills, but not much else. Politics, and political ranting, sort of sucked up my life, and then, of course, Trump got elected, which sort of was the icing on the cake of the crapstorm that 2016 seemed to be for so many. It wasn’t a great year for me, but it wasn’t my worst year ever. Ultimately, it was a recovery year for me: 2015 had been really, really bad, and I had a lot to figure out about what I want my future to look like.
My focus for 2017 is one word: Publish. Hitting “publish” on something, anything, every single day.
2016
Female
I am 20 going on 21, (December 29th)
For the entirety of a year I was unable to locate a long term job aside from helping my stepfather (whom is in his late 50s) with a variety of jobs such as house chores, firewood loading and stacking, fixing automobiles, woodworking, welding, etc.
I repeatedly failed my driving test and do not own a car, but may fix up an old truck to call my own. I’m not a bad driver, and I’m ok at parallel parking, I just test terribly and have anxieties around strangers/people in general.
I took on many major and minor projects, but have finished none of them.
2017
Female
I’ll be 21.
I plan on following a very specific schedule including an exercise routine, swimming weekly, publishing 6 books (bi-monthly). I’d like to eat healthier, but it isn’t really in my budget.
By now it will have been four years since I graduated high school in Dec 2013, immediately becoming homeless and joining a local program where I lived in an apartment. This lasted for about a year.
I’m in the military and in May 2016 I returned home from a 7 month deployment. When I left my 2 year old was just starting to string 2 – 3 words together. When I came home she was speaking in whole sentences. I missed a lot. It was a happy homecoming. My daughter was shy around me but at least wasn’t afraid of me. But after the happy reunion most people don’t realize it’s a difficult readjustment for everyone. My husband and daughter had their own routines, their own habits. And it all excluded me because they had to develop all of this without me. Me coming home meant we all had to change and adapt to new routines and develop new family habits. Challenging is an understatement.
Then at work there were even more changes. I went into a new position and was told it was temporary. Then it wasn’t temporary. Then other people released. And without immediate replacements we’ve had to pick up the slack.
2016 was much more difficult than I had imagined. Now I’m facing the possibility of another deployment in 2017. I believe in what I do but having a young child at home makes it difficult to keep doing it.
I started 2016 with a lot of plans. First of all, to find a new, more interesting and creative job than this i do during the last 10 years. I work as an office emploee in an insurance company with a crazy, rude, boss, insurers who smoke all the time inside the office and a boring object without any probability of development. The only positive of this job is that the company pays its employees.
In my country, Greece, the last 7 years economic crisis changed our lives in all levels. Unemployment now reached 24% and bosses exploit emploees in many ways. This makes finding a new better job an elusive dream. So, plans remains just plans for the time being.
The plan i achieved for 2016 is to manage and make more pleasant my daily routine by seeing more often friends, organize my home and going to swing dance lessons with my husband.